The next 3 weeks or so is the time when the maximum number of bird species can be seen in the Toronto area. With the leaves still not out on the trees, it is much easier to see who that is serenading us in song from above.

This morning I had all of the birds mentioned above for the first time this spring. In fact there were dozens of Yellow Warblers; some of whom will nest in the area:

Gnatcatchers are usually found high in trees but this morning a pair let us have a good, close look at them:

Here you can see the black and white tail:

This Baltimore Oriole nibbling on Aspen flowers was very high in the tree:

Species list: double-crested cormorant, Canada goose, mallard, wood duck, turkey vulture, spotted sandpiper, downy woodpecker, eastern kingbird, tree swallow, rough-winged swallow, cliff swallow, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, Carolina wren, gray catbird, American robin, blue-gray gnatcatcher, warbling vireo, yellow warbler, red-winged blackbird, Baltimore oriole, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, song sparrow.  (24 species)

Some looks at the area on this 14 degree, sunny morning:

Other creatures:

I went early to take photos in the woods. As a result the Trillium and Trout-lily flowers are not as open as when the group saw them a few hours later:

Other botany:

This morning’s group:

NATURE POETRY

Now the soft rain comes over the blue hill,

And the red-shouldered blackbird sounds his  flute

Along the meadows of the Silvermine.

Between its willow banks the winding stream

Is tinged with violet dusk, as the great moon

Rises in splendour on the Eastern ridge,

And through the twilight all the marshy ground

Rings with the silver chorus of the frogs.

In rocky groves the shy hepaticas

Awake to don their softest blue once more,

And troops of golden adder’s-tongue return.

In cool damp woods Jack-in-the-pulpit stands.

And the dark trillium for a mystic sign;

That all the old earth magic is renewed.

Bliss Carman (1861 – 1929)

Miles Hearn